Undying Vengeance (29 page)

T
he hawk wildly
beat its body against Armani’s front door with no response from Donovan. Where was his master? He flew to the side of the house landing on the windows ledge. Cocking its head to the side he saw Donovan sleeping the rest of the undead. What careless behavior on his master’s part. Why would he allow himself to fall into that type of sleep in an insecure environment? The hawk screeched and beat its head on the window. Donovan rustled but didn’t wake.

The hawk soared high above the house, did a three sixty in the air, eyed the window and flew toward it at light speed. He smashed the window, shattering the glass into bits and pieces. The hawk landed beside the couch with the grace and agility of a gymnast.

“Who’s there?” Donovan asked startled. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and sat up. He saw the hawk standing before him, with wings outstretched and eyes as yellow as the sun. “What is it? Where’s Armani?” He asked looking around the room half expecting Armani to appear. “Shit.” Donovan jumped off the couch and threw his cloak on. “What’s happened?” He asked feeling panicked.

The hawk led Donovan to the crystal ball, focused and replayed Armani’s visit to the cemetery.

“What have I done?” Donovan asked. He set the crystal ball aside. “We must get to him before he commits suicide.” Donovan cursed himself for not paying closer attention to Armani. Such a new vampire filled with so much pain. He should’ve never left him alone. Victor would make him pay for his neglect of Armani. But, that was the least of his concerns right now. He had to save Armani from his fate.

“Come, we must go.” He said. “We don’t have a second to waste.” He ran to the door, pushed it open and looked at the hawk standing beside him. “Where is he? You must know my friend. Take me to him.”

The hawk screeched, spread its shiny black wings and took flight. Donovan followed suit. The cold wind slapped his face like an angry wife upon finding out her husband cheated. He kept his eyes glued to the hawk hoping its senses were on target with Armani’s location and prayed they wouldn’t be too late.

Armani’s heart beat like a drum in his chest. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at the starless sky. He hated being a vampire and felt like a monster. This was the end. Armani wiped the sweat from his face and stared at the red and orange flames dancing in the wind waiting to devour him.

Armani blinked twice and rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Dressed in a white wedding dress, Simone appeared next to the fire staring up at him. Her long hair blew in the breeze, a sympathetic smile on her face and compassion in her eyes. She stretched her arms out to him and whispered, “I understand why you killed those men and you’re not a monster.”

A red tear trickled down Armani’s cheek and he tried to smile. Simone brought him the peace and courage he needed to follow this through to the end. Armani took a deep breath, closed his eyes and mouthed, ‘Simone.’ He spread his arms like an eagle ready to take flight. “It is finished.” He whispered.

From afar Donovan saw Armani standing on the ledge, ready to fall to his death. The hawk dipped up and down in the sky trying with all its might to get Armani’s attention. It was no use. Armani was focused on something below and nothing and no one was going to stop him from completing what he had set out to do.

Donovan cursed the fire waiting to envelope his friend. He and the hawk were two hundred yards away when he saw Armani free fall from the building’s ledge descending like a torpedo toward the fire.

“Armani, lift yourself up!” Donovan screamed. “Fly Armani!”

Donovan cried out in anguish. They were too late. Armani was going to die.

Armani fell into the middle of the fire and screamed in pain. A loud explosion filled the night sky and balls of fire rolled toward the Heavens.

Donovan and the hawk were thrown backward.

Donovan wiped the debris off his face, lifting his head to stare at the place where Armani ended his immortal life. “God rest your soul, my friend.” He placed his head in his hands and wept bitterly. “I have failed.”

The hawk bowed its head in reverence and patiently waited for his master.

Filled with anger, sorrow and regret Donovan wiped his eyes and rose to his feet. “Come, my faithful guardian, we must report to Victor what has happened.” He held out his shaking arm. “The Dark Ones must continue their work.”

The hawk nodded and flew onto Donovan’s outstretched arm.

Donovan glanced at the fire and lowered his head praying to a God he hoped would have mercy on Armani’s soul. He exhaled and walked from the abandoned warehouse without a backward glance at the fire burning like the forces of hell devouring what remained of Armani.

Julius hid behind the bushes watching Donovan walk away and disappear like the setting sun. Julius’s heart went out to his old friend but he had plans of great proportion and in the end The Dark Ones would prevail.